title: Death by late-presenting Bochdalek hernia in infant soon after congenital cardiac repair.
abstract: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) presenting beyond the neonatal period is commonly perceived to be rare. With reported frequencies of 2.6% to 20% of all CDH, it may be an overlooked cause of mortality. Variable symptomatology makes its diagnosis challenging. We report the sudden death of a 3-month-old patient shortly after hospital discharge following congenital heart surgery. Autopsy findings associated the patient's demise with migrated abdominal contents in the chest through a Bochdalek hernia defect. No indications of CDH existed before hospital discharge. Relevant issues pertaining to congenital heart disease, CDH, and importance of autopsy in this context are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. fchau0@email.uky.edu
authors.forename: Destiny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Srour
authors.forename: Cristin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rolf
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Kristopher
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cumbermack
authors.forename: Lou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bezold
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kozik
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plunkett
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hessel
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013398:Sudden Infant Death
keywords: comorbidity; congenital heart surgery; late-presenting Bochdalek hernia; morbidity); outcomes (includes mortality; pediatric